Changes in U.S. Biosecurity Following the 2001 Anthrax Attacks

Abstract

On September 18, 2001, anonymous letters laced with anthrax spores were dropped in a mailbox in Trenton, New Jersey, en route to multiple national news organizations. A second mailing in early October had refined the spores into an easily-inhalable powder and targeted two U.S. senators [1]. The most recent bioterror attack in U.S. history had begun, and spurred a national frenzy in the wake of 9/11 [2,3]. In all, just 17 people were hospitalized and only 5 died, [4] but the event instigated an order-of-magnitude increase in biodefense spending and transformed the entire biodefense landscape over the following 15 years. [5,6]. The 2001 anthrax attacks inspired a rapid scaling in American biodefense through the Bio Watch program, stockpiling of smallpox vaccine, Project Bio Shield, and massive increases in bio agents research; however, increased spending and scale have failed to yield sufficient protection [7].